Home of the Braised Read Free Page B

meet you at your apartment and explain on the way.”
    “Almost home right now.”
    “Good. See you in twenty. Meet you out front.”
    “Wow. You’re not wasting any time,” I said.
    “Not a second more than necessary. I can’t wait to tell you my idea. I hope you’re as excited about this as I am.”
    • • •
    I SPEED-WALKED TO MY BUILDING AND MADE it upstairs to my apartment without being waylaid by the elderly doorman who was busy signing for a package and didn’t notice me scurry by. I changed clothes, brushed my hair, and made it back down to the lobby in less than fifteen. James’s eyes lit up when he spied me. “Ollie,” he said. “You got a minute? What’s the read among the staff at the White House on these peace negotiations?”
    James was a sweet man and a kind soul. I hated to brush him off, but at that very moment I noticed Gav pulling up outside.
    “Sorry,” I said. “Gotta run.”
    “That’s all right, honey. I’ll catch up with you later.”
    Of course he would. James knew that I was privy to a lot of secrets working at the White House. He also knew that I never shared anything that wasn’t already public knowledge. But that didn’t stop him from trying.
    Gav was just starting to get out of the car when I pushed through the apartment building’s glass doors. “Where are we going?” I asked. “And what’s with all the mystery?”
    “I’ll explain when you get in.”
    As he and I settled ourselves and buckled up, I stole a glance to the backseat to make sure Gav had brought his cane. Even though he was walking much better now than he had been immediately after a recent skirmish, there was no mistaking how much he hated assistance getting around. We both knew that his dependence on the cane was temporary, but the angry set of his jaw whenever he used the device told me how much this infirmity taxed his patience.
    He didn’t seem bothered in the least at this moment, though. Behind the wheel, with a sly grin on his face, Gav was more animated than usual. He restarted the car and set off, making me wait for enlightenment. I could tell he was enjoying this.
    “I got a call from a friend of mine this afternoon. His name’s Evan Bonder.”
    “You’ve never mentioned him before,” I said. “At least not that I remember. Did you?”
    “Probably not. I only hear from him occasionally.”
    “Okay,” I said slowly, in an effort to prompt him for more.
    “Evan Bonder used to be in the Secret Service,” he began. “We were good friends and, as I mentioned, still keep in touch from time to time. He called me today for a favor and I didn’t think anything of it until after we’d hung up. When I remembered, I called him back.” He took one hand off the wheel to gesture vaguely into the air. “It’s not like that was the first thing that came to mind. I mean, neither you nor I expected there would be an eight-week backlog on marriage ceremonies.”
    “And with that, you have officially lost me,” I said. I was more amused than angry. Whatever thoughts were careering through Gav’s head, they’d lifted his spirits exponentially since yesterday.
    He reached to grab my hand, the lines in his usually serious face creasing into a deep, genuine smile. “Evan,” he said taking his eyes off the road long enough to give me a pointed look, “is a minister. And he said he would be delighted to perform our ceremony. Assuming you’re willing, of course.”
    “That’s wonderful,” I said. “Wow. What a change from yesterday, huh?” Though not displeased, I was unprepared for this news. Questions raced through my brain so fast it took me a moment to latch on to one. “What kind of minister is he?”
    Gav gave a sheepish shrug. “I don’t remember. Nondenominational, maybe? He left the Secret Service because he had a profound calling to serve others. He said he wanted to help those on the fringes of society’s fabric to find a way to weave themselves back